Category Management

Nov 12, 2014

Changing SRM Behaviors in a Period of $70/bbl Oil

I was in Houston yesterday evening, speaking to a large group of procurement executives at a roundtable held by KPMG’s Procurement Advisory Group, at the fabulous Brennan’s restaurant on Smith…

Nov 10, 2014

How Does Procurement Create Value? Insights from CPO Speakers at Zycus Horizons Conference

I was attending the Zycus Horizons 2014 conference at Amelia Island today, listening to speakers. In addition to the procurement executives, I also got to meet Captain Dick Phillips, the…

Oct 31, 2014

"The Procurement Value Proposition": Guest Post by Gerard Chick Part 1

I was recently interviewed by Jon Hansen on Blog Talk Radio, discussing my new book “The Procurement Value Proposition” co-authored with Gerard Chick. In the interview, I discuss some of…

Aug 27, 2014

SCRC Student Project Lineup Off to a Great Start…

NC State kicked off classes last week, and as usual our incoming group of MBA students were lined up with projects as part of their entry class into supply chain…

Jun 1, 2014

Charlotte Area CPO's Share Insights on Supplier Relationship Management

I had the opportunity to host a roundtable at Fleming’s Steakhouse in downtown Charlotte for a group of Chief Procurement Officers hosted by Accenture, sharing thoughts on the subject of…

Feb 27, 2014

Small Business Manufacturing in America: Innovate, Design, Develop and Manufacture

I had a remarkable interview with a medium sized supplier today, that has truly found a business model which I believe holds a promise for a new industrial revolution in…

Feb 3, 2014

The Origins of Category Management

I was fortunately enough to have a fascinating discussion with Steve Zimmer, who currently leads a team at US Car. For those who may have been around for a few…

Jan 28, 2014

So what exactly is Supplier Relationship Management, anyway?

A lot of terminology is being thrown in pubic forums, using terms such as collaboration, partnering, relationship management, and other themes. These terms are, in my opinion, being over-used, without…

Dec 12, 2013

Unlocking the Secrets of Guanxi in Supply Chains…

Professor Baofeng Huo left to return to Zhejiang University this week. Baofeng and I have spent a great deal of time together this fall, discussing and comparing the importance of…

Nov 15, 2013

Sourcing Analytics Combined with Relationship Management is Key for Automotive Suppliers

I spent some time visiting this week with Sensata in Aguascaliente Mexico. Sensata is a major manufacturer of automotive sensors, with major customers such as Continental AG, BMW, Bosch, Nissan,…